Respect is the most important quality for people of all ages to have.
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| amazingly respectful to their mom :) |
If you, as a mom or dad or teacher, ignore bad behavior then you are encouraging further bad behavior. Kids are always pushing boundaries - that's their job!! Our job as adults is to make sure the boundaries that we want are solid. If you think that some minor misbehaving is normal, you're right! That is true. However, the reason it is called misbehaving is because it isn't behavior that you want to have continue. So it is necessary - every time - to correct and redirect...doesn't matter what the age of the child is. Kids will learn one of two things: either misbehaving is tolerated or misbehaving is not tolerated. Which do you think will help your children in the future? It becomes a matter of respect. Do your kids listen to you and follow your directions? They should!! When they choose to disobey you, they are being disrespectful. It is normal for them to test your limits, but it should also be normal for you to reinforce the behaviors you do want.
As a teacher, I have often made "Gold Coins of Respect" to explain and give to kids at school.
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| Gold Coin of Respect |
On one side of the coin is the word 'respect' surrounded by three words, 'people', 'property', and 'self'. If kids can learn what it means -specifically - to respect other people, property, and themselves, then the idea of respect as a whole can be reinforced. I believe self-esteem comes from a healthy respect for 'self', not from other people patting them on the back for everything they do.
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back side
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The back side of the coin has three words from The Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, happiness. I tell the kids about the guarantee of life and liberty, but not a guarantee of happiness. We are only guaranteed the right to pursue happiness. The Gold Coin of Respect is just a symbol to remind kids of how to treat others, how to behave, and how to go after their own happiness.
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life...that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Can you teach your children to respect themselves, to respect others, and to respect the boundaries you set for them?
Happy Parenting!
I just stumbled across your blog and just wanted to comment and say I love this post. So very true. Teaching children respect is not always easy, but always worth it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Megan, just checked out your blog and commented...love it!
ReplyDeleteHey! Hello! I found you through the Michigan group at Bloggy Moms - thought your name was familiar and checked your site. Lo and behold I recognize Chad! My husband and I were teachers at Utica, retired in 2006 and moved north. I'm at www.edgeofescape.blogspot.com and am now a follower of your blog - nice to stay in touch with Utica.
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